Mozilla, Brendan Eich, Diversity, and the First Amendment

For those tuning in late to news of Brendan Eich’s resignation as CEO at Mozilla, Sara Ricker provides an excellent synopsis of this event. For those who’ve already heard but have yet to delve into complex issues this event brings up, consider the critical questions Sara presents. Also, check out other questions raised in Ex-Mozilla CEO wins support from unexpected liberal factions.

The separation of Brendan Eich, former CEO of Mozilla, from his position just ten days after he was named to it, is a situation where all involved did what they were legally entitled to do, yet the result causes reasonable people some discomfort.

The CEO made a legal donation, in support of a position with which more than half of California voters agreed at the time.

In 2008, Mr. Eich donated $1,000 to support passage of California Proposition 8, which reserved marriage for a man and a woman. Proposition 8 passed that year, with the support of 52% of California voters. During the 2008 Presidential campaign, both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton stated they were against gay marriage.

Mr. Eich had every right to contribute to any ballot initiative he wanted to support, as do we all. Nevertheless, he recently resigned from…